India sets new target of 15,000 megawatts of wind energy by 2017

Date

05 March 2013

NEW DELHI: The Government has set a new target of producing 15,000 megawatts of wind energy during India's 12th Five Year Plan, which runs from 2012 to 2017.

The Indian Government’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy announced the target in a statement, where it also highlighted the current success of wind power in India, which totals 18,551 megawatts. This figure makes up 9% of the total installed power capacity in India.

States that are dominating India’s wind power installations are Tamil Nadu with 7,154 megawatts and new member of The Climate Group, Gujarat, which has reached 3,093 megawatts.

The Ministry statement claims that growth has been driven by government incentives which have encouraged private sector investment.

To maintain this growth, loans to install wind turbines are available from financial institutions such as the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency. The government has also carried out wind resource surveys to identify the best sites for projects.

Aditi Dass, Director of Technology Programs India, The Climate Group, said: “The Government’s latest commitment to wind power offers concrete evidence of India’s drive to deliver cleaner, more stable energy for its people. Coupled with the small but clear measures announced in the Union Budget last week, India is again stepping up a gear towards a thriving low carbon economy, led by states like Gujarat. However, we must see greater installed capacity in wind and other renewable resources from all states if India is to overtake other emerging economies in the global clean revolution race.”